Record strip control for writing machines



Dec. 12, 1933. w. D. CATON 1,939,202

BEGORD STRIP CONTROL FOR WRITING MACHINES Filed Feb. 4. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 9 a 4 1 I I 0 o l I INVENTOR.

Maw

By M A 6 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1933. w D, CATON 1,939,202

RECORD STRIP CONTROL FOB WRITING MACHINES Filed Feb. 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. mm .0. 5213; M M J ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1933. W, D, CATON 1,939,202

RECORD Shin CONTROL FOR WRITING MACHINES Filed Feb. 4, 1931 s Shets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

By M M a v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 PATENT OFFICE RECORD STRIP CONTROL FOR WRITING MACHINES William D. Caton, Elmira, N. Y., assignor to American Sales Book Company, Limited,

Toronto, Canada, a corporation of Ontario,

Canada Application February 4, 1931. Serial No. 513,266 8' Claims. (01. 197-133) This invention relates to improvements in typepointed out in the following detailed description writing or similar recording machines, and with relation to more particular features the invention relates to improvements in record strip or work web controlling mechanism for guiding and I controlling work webs of the continuous traveler type for use in machines of the class mentioned.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved record strip support and guide 39 for machines of the class mentioned whereby work webs or record strips of the continuous traveler type may be conveniently employed on machines of existing constructionnot originally intended for utilizing this type of record strip. The

improved guide and support is also adapted for incorporationin new machines, but it is preferably constructed for convenient installation and for ready detachment from the machine.

A further object is to provide an improved vrecord strip guide and support having provisions for attachment to typewriters or similar recording machines, whereby one or a plurality of relatively superposed continuous traveler record strips may be conveniently and satisfactorily guided. from a record supply supported at the rear of the ma-- chine, forwardly thereof into writing position upon the supporting platen.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a record strip support and guide of improved construction and arrangement whereby it is readily applicable to machines of the class mentioned wherein continuous traveler work webs could not be utilized. When so applied the improved sup- .port and guide is adapted to control the work webs 35 in an accurate and satisfactory manner in their passage from supply to writing position upon the writing platen.

Another object is to devise an improved record strip guide and support of the class mentioned which is so arranged as to be readily applied to writing machines of. different platen widths, and also to control traveler record strips of different widths.

According to another feature of the invention,

a guide and support for continuous traveler record strips is provided, having an improved attaching arrangement for installing it in operative position having improved ser ally arranged guides enl edges whereby the strip is guided e1 invention -esides the record of an illustrative but preferred embodiment, and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed disclosures of the illustrative embodiment and to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a writing machine '70 of familiar type equipped with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved record strip supporting and controlling device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section substantially 76 on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking into the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the embodiment of the invention there shown, a writing machine of familiar construction is diagrammatically illustrated. This machine includes a base plate 10 with a superstructure or frame 11 supporting the normal operative mechanisms not herein disclosed in detail. A platen 12 ofthe rotary type is supported in the frame 11 being provided with a lmob or handwheel 13 for effecting manual rotation thereof. The type bars (not shown) are carried by the machine in position to move against the work webs or record strips extending around the platen so as to impress characters on the webs, these type bars being manu- =ally controlled by the keys of the keybars 14 in 5 a manner well known in the art.

Also the machine may be supported in any desired manner when in use. It is shown as being carried by a transporting carriage 15 having an adjustable truck 16 whereby the machine may be readily moved from place to place.

At therear cf the platen i2 is a paper table it" mounted in any well known. preferred upon the machine. This table guides and. supports the work webs iceiere they reach platen and else s as a te fa record sheets which must be threaded into the machine 'for each recording transaction, said sheets being removed when the record is completed and another sheet or set of relatively superposed sheets inserted for the next transaction, However, for the purpose of this invention a supporting shelf or table 18 is carried at the rear of the machine for supporting a supply 19 of continuous traveler record strips or webs A. This supply shelf is constructed so as to be conveniently applied to the machine. It includes one or a plurality of readily detachable connections indicated diagrammatically at 20 for connecting the inner edge of the shelf to the machine or its supporting carriage. Also, one or more supporting braces or struts 21 are connected to the shelf at a point on the underside thereof spaced outwardly from the attachment 20 and detachably connected at 22 to 9. lug carried by the carriage 15. Therefore, this record supply supporting shelf may be readily applied in position upon the machine or conveniently removed therefrom. This shelf may, as shown, be provided with supports or posts 23 for holding the supply 19 of record strips in position thereon.

A very convenient record supply is provided by interfolding the record strips A in zigzag formation to provide a zigzag folded record strip supply pack 19. This supply pack is compact and convenient to handle to pack for storage or shipment or to transport. As many record strips as desired for the particular work in hand may thus be relatively superposed and folded together in zigzag formation, two such record strips being shown in the drawings folded together.

In order that the record strips may be guided and controlled in their movements from the supply pad 19 into writing position upon the platen, a strip supporting and controlling frame or bracket indicated generally at 24 is provided. This guiding frame is shown as attached to and supported by the paper table 17 extending upwardly therefrom and toward the rear of the machine. Thus the paper table provides a supporting plate for the guiding frame whereby the latter is carried by and movable with the platen carriage of the machine.

For connecting the strip guiding frame to the paper table 17 a pair of reversely arranged channelled strip guiding plates 25 are provided, each having upper and lower flanges to the lower of which a threaded attaching post 26 is connected. Each attaching post 26 may be connected to the lower flange of the channeled plate 25 by means of a transversely extending metallic attaching bar 27 welded or attached in any other desired manner to the flange and to-which the attaching post 26 is anchored. The paper table 17 is formed with transversely aligned slots 28 for the reception of the attaching bar 27. Therefore in order to secure the channelled strip guiding plates 25 in position, the post 26 and bar 27 are entered in the appropriate slot 28 and thumb nuts 29 then applied to secure the guiding channels in the desired position. It will be seen that the channelled plates 25 will be kept in properly aligned position by engagement of the elongated attaching bars 27 in the slots 28 and that the guiding plates 25 may be adjusted in the slots 28 laterally of the paper table 1'7 in order to accommodate record strips or a guiding frame 24 of any desired width. A specially formed bearing plate or washer 30, best shown in Fig 4. may be provided for engagement with the downturned flanges of the slots 28 and with the inner face of the attaching nuts 29.

These channelled strip guiding plates 25 provide a convenient attaching means for the strip guiding and supporting frame 24. This guiding frame includes the side members or arms 31 preferably of metal having edge flanges to form channel arms whereby they can be made relatively light yet amply strong. Each side member is preferably formed with an attaching flange 32 at the inner end thereof which may be formed by a widened extension of the upper edge flange and is attached in any preferred manner as by welding or riveting to the upper flange of the corresponding channelled guiding plate 25. These side members 31 are thus secured only at the inner ends thereof extending backwardly in cantilever formation from their supported ends, the opposite ends being free and unsupported.

At or near their rear ends the cantilever arms 31 are provided with strip guiding attachments adapted to direct the record strips in their forward movements. In the embodiment shown, strip guiding means includes the transfer tie rods 33 extending between the cantilever arms and acting to brace and support the strip guiding frame. Upon. each of the tie rods 33 there is mounted a strip guiding finger 34 one adjacent each edge of the record" strip path. Each of these fingers is conveniently formed with integral angularly disposed spaced supporting lugs 35 having terminal formations for engagement in gripping relation with the tie rods 32. Adjustable binding screws 36 extend through these supporting lugs 35 whereby the strip guiding fingers may be conveniently released and adjusted along the tie rods 33 and clamped thereon in any desired adjusted position. The guiding fingers 34 as shown are thus spaced slightly from the path of the advancing record strips whereby the latter are maintained in their correct position and guided and controlled in their movements toward the platen. It will be understood that the record strips may pass individually over the rods 33, or two or more strips may pass over each rod as shown in Fig. 1.

It will now be seen that the improved record strip controlling guide or guiding frame 24 may be readily applied in operative position upon the writing machine merely by entering the attaching post 26 in the slots 28 and app the attaching nuts. Therefore, the installation of the paper strip guide requires no mutilation of machines having the slotted paper table 1'! and the installation can be *made with very little expenditure of skill or labor.

Due to the arrangement of the elongated slot 28, the guiding frame may be attached to machines of different platen widths.

When the guiding and controlling frame is thus applied to the typewriting machine, the continuous traveller record strips A are led forwardly from the supply 19 and passed over the guide rods 33 beneath the respective guiding fingers 34. It will be understood that there maybe asmanytierods33asdesired,andeachrodmay be equipped with the guiding fingers 34, as shown in Fig. 2 for the outermost rod 33. From these guiding fingers the strips are passed through the guiding channels of the guiding and supporting plates 25 which are made quite deep, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to accommodate record strips the machine is loaded ready for use. Since the record strips will ordinarily be provided with longitudinally arranged series of blank forms, these forms may now be successively filled in by operation of the typewriting machine. When each blank form is completely filled in, the form leaf may be severed over an appropriate tearing edge or with a knife, or the record strips may be transversely perforated or otherwise weakened to facilitate severance.

It will thus be seen that the successive blank forms may be filled in continuously one after another until the record supply 19 is exhausted, the record strips being guided and controlled in their forward movements by the improved guiding and supporting frame and being continously kept in correct position thereby. .Due to the serial arrangement of the strip guiding fingers 34 with the strip guiding channels 25, and with each other, the strips are kept in proper position .as they emerge from the supply 19 to the guiding frame and also as they approach the platen. It is thus practically impossible for the strips to get out of proper recording position as they pass on to the platen 12. Also the several strips of the set are always kept in proper alignment with each other so that they enter upon the platen with the blank forms thereof in correct superposed registry. Satisfactory manifold inscription is thus assured at all times.

Transfer material or carbon sheets may be held in position between the record strips A in any appropriate manner, this not forming a part of this invention and therefore not disclosed herein. It is preferred, however, to employ long continuous carbon sheets interleaved between the record sheets A, such carbon sheets being coextensive in length with the record strips. Also for some purposes the transfer material may be coated on the backs of the record strips themselves so as to transfer the inscriptions to the lower record strips.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a writing machine having a frame and a platen for supporting record strips in writing position, of a record strip controlling guide for continuous traveler record strips carried by and positioned above the machine for guiding the strips to the platen from a record supply, said guide including a guiding frame having a plurality of spaced cantilever arms attached to the paper table of the machine and extending therefrom toward the rear, said guiding frame having a plurality of serially arranged margin engaging members for each record strip positioned respectively in the.

path of the lateral edges of each strip as it travels from the supply to the platen, said serially arranged guiding members for each strip edge being positioned both forwardly and rearwardly of said guiding frame near the opposite ends thereof, a cross connecting member for each record strip, said connecting members being spaced longitudinally of and connected to said cantilever arms near the'free ends thereof and said rearward guiding members being re-v spectively connected to said cross members for adjustment longitudinally thereof.

-2. The combination with a writing machine having a frame and a platen for supporting record strips in writing position, of a record strip controlling guide for continuous traveler record strips carried by and positioned above the machine for guiding the strips to the platen from a record supply, said guide including a guiding frame having a plurality of spaced cantilever arms attached to the paper table of the machine and extending therefrom toward the rear, said guiding frame having a plurality of serially arranged forward and rearward pairs of margin engaging guiding members positioned respectively in the path of the lateral edges of the record strip as it travels from the supply to the platen, one pair of said marginal engaging guiding members being positioned adjacent the attachment to said paper table and including channel plates with inwardly opening channels, a

plurality of cross connecting members spacedlongitudinally of and connected to said cantilever arms near the free ends thereof, and a rearward pair of said guiding members being connected to each of said cross members for adjustment longitudinally thereof.

3. The combination with a writing machine having a' frame and a platen for supporting rec-- ord strips in writing position, of a record strip l controlling guide for continuous traveler record strips, said guide including a pair of guide plates charmeled for reception in guiding relation of the record strip edges, a rearwardly extending strip supporting arm connected to and supported by each of said guide plates and extending rearwardly over the top of the machine, a plurality of cross tie rods extending between the rearward parts of said arms, and strip guides for opposite strip margins including guide fingers spaced from said rods and adjustably attached thereto.

4. A detachable strip guide for recording machines including, in combination, spaced attaching brackets having guide .channels for record strips, a supporting arm attached to and extending from each of said brackets, a plurality of cross connecting members between said arms remote from said-brackets and strip guiding members for opposite strip edges adjacent each of said cross connecting members so as to form individual guides for each strip at the rear end of said strip guide.

5. The combination with a writing machine having a frame and a platen for supporting record strips in writing position, of a record strip controlling guide for continuous traveler record strips carried by and positioned above the machine for guiding the strips to the platen from a record supply, said guide including a cantilever strip guiding frame, a supporting plate for said guiding frame supported by the platen carriage and having a transversely elongated slot, an elongated supporting bar'attached to the guiding frame and slidably seated in said slot, and securing means for securing the frame in adjusted position with reference to the slot.

6. In a writing machine, in combination, a record strip controlling guide for continuous traveler record strips carried by the machine for guiding the strips to the platen from a record supply, said guide including a strip-guiding frame carried by the machine and having longitudinal frame members and a rearwardly disposed free end, said strip-guiding frame having pairs of laterally spaced strip-guiding members positioned for guiding engagement with the strip margins, said pairs of strip-guiding members being spaced longitudinally of said guiding frame and positioned adjacent the forward and rearward extremities thereof, a supporting slideway having transversely elongated parts connecting said guiding frame to the machine for sliding adjustment transversely of the record strip path, said slideway including a supporting member having a slot and an elongated supporting bar slidably seated in said slot, and a threaded clamping post attached to said strip-guiding frame and extending through said slot and carrying a clamping nut positioned for clamping said guiding frame in laterally adjusted position.

7. In a writing machine, in combination, a record strip controlling guide for continuous traveler record strips carried by the machine for guiding the strips to the platen from a record supply, said guide including a strip-guiding frame carried by the machine and having longitudinal frame members and a rearwardly disposed free end, said strip-guiding frame having pairs of laterally spaced strip-guiding members positioned for guiding engagement with the strip margins, said pairs of strip-guiding members being spaced longitudinally of said guiding frame and positioned adjacent the forward and rearward extremities thereof, a supporting slideway having transversely elongated parts connecting said guiding frame to the machine for sliding adjustment transversely of the record strip path, said slideway including a supporting member having a slot and an elongated supporting bar slidably seated in said slot, a threaded clamping post attached to said strip-guiding frame and extending through said slot and carrying a clamping nut positioned for clamping said guiding frame in laterally adjusted position, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse record strip-guiding bars connected to said longitudinal frame members so as to form an individual guide for each record strip, a pair of said strip-guiding members being mounted on each of said guiding bars for adjustment therealong, and each of said adjustable strip-guiding members having a guiding finger positioned to overlie the respective strip.

8. In a record strip controlling guide for continuous traveler record strips for writing machines, in combination, forwardly positioned channel plates connected to and supported by the machine for lateral adjustment thereon and having record strip guiding channels opening inwardly toward each other, a pair of laterally spaced cantilever arms respectively connected to and supported by said channel plates and extending rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse record strip guiding bars connected to and extending between said cantilever arms adjacent to the rearward ends thereof so as to form a. rearwardly disposed individual guide for each record strip, and a pair of oppositely disposed strip-guiding members mounted on each of said guiding bars for individually guiding the opposite margins of each record strip.

WILLIAM D. CATON. 

